Canterlot. The city was calm and quiet on that autumn day. The chilly winds carried the fallen leaves across the streets, and the sun rays could barely penetrate the thick cloud cover. The rain wasn't scheduled for another few hours, but the preparations were in place. From time to time, the energy in the clouds released in thunder and lightning, cracking above the city and flashing it in a bright, sharp light.

Sirius was walking alone to the Royal Guard Training Facility, which wasn't too far from the tall and mighty Canterlot Castle. His gait was steady, and his limp was no longer as pronounced as before; his expression was calm and collected, although anxiousness resided deep inside him. He walked without his swords – he knew he wouldn't need them at the Training Facility. However, now he couldn't feel the familiar weight of his weapons, and he felt as if he was naked. Even being without clothes never made him feel that way, but the lack of his blades made him feel vulnerable, unprotected, even weak. He had taken some close combat lessons in order to be able to use his body, but he would feel much more comfortable having a sword between himself and anyone who would dare attack him.

As he walked, some ponies greeted him with polite nods or short words. He automatically nodded in return but remained silent. He was used to blending with the crowd, but now seemingly everyone knew who he was. His scars were mostly hidden by his fur, but his limp was unmistakeable, and ponies recognized him regardless. Of course, he couldn't evade or deny the fact that he fought the Queen of Changelings during the pivotal moment of Equestrian history and won. And now, everyone across the country knew his face. His victory at the tournament brought him some fame before the invasion, but now, there was no one who didn't know him. And yet, despite the praise, despite the rewards, he didn't feel like he thought a hero was supposed to feel. He was just... himself. No more, no less. He did what he thought was right, and it just so happened to align with what ponies thought of as the right thing.

He didn't pride himself on it. The medal he received was safely stored in the box somewhere inside the mansion, collecting dust. He wasn't about to rest and relax knowing that he could do more. He could now live a carefree life, but that wasn't what he wanted. The Royal Guard Training Facility appeared in his vision and he headed straight into the building. If he could do better, then he must.

After a brief exchange with the receptionist, he was directed to a specific hall where new ponies underwent medical examination to determine whether they qualified to be a candidate. As anxious as Sirius was about the whole thing, he was also excited to take a large step into adulthood. A home, a special someone, and now a job reminded him of the peace he longed for but could never reach before. Finally, it was within his grasp, and mere hours separated him from achieving it. The job didn't promise to be peaceful or easy, but he expected it, and that was exactly what he was looking for. Easy life always makes one lazy and unprepared for possible challenges that may arise in the future.

He took a seat with other stallions that came for the examination. Everyone was silent, deep in their own thoughts, so no one disturbed Sirius despite the fact that some of the stallions clearly recognized him. The line was joined by a few more stallions and then proceeded to move quickly. Soon, Sirius was called next.

He entered the first room simply labeled with a number. A stallion wearing a tunic with a red stripe sat at a desk and invited Sirius to sit across him. His eyes glanced at the damaged leg as Sirius limped to the chair and took a sit.

"Welcome, Sirius," the stallion said. His voice was soft a smooth; perfect for narrating books, "I'm a psychiatrist and I'm going to interview you before you can proceed."

Sirius simply nodded in response, slightly adjusting his position to rest his damaged hind leg better.

"I've heard many things about you," the psychiatrist said, "Good things, too. Everyone knows what you did at the wedding, and you have my respect for it."

Again, Sirius nodded without saying a word.

"Personally, I was looking forward to seeing you enter this room," the stallion continued, "Many stallions come and go each year for one reason or another. What made you go here? Why do you want to become a guard?"

"I want to protect my home," Sirius replied without skipping a beat and then added, "To do more than I can do alone."

"And why do you want to do this?"

"Because I feel that's the right thing to do," the stallion replied in a calm and steady voice, "Because... I simply want to."

For a few long moments, silence reigned in the room. A thought passed in Sirius' head – did he say something wrong? However, he was confident that his answer would be enough. After all, it was honest, and he couldn't say more if he tried. He didn't need a reason to protect what he had gained in his new life. He could come up with many reasons, perhaps, but in the end, he wanted to protect his home because he simply wanted to. In some way, it was even a need.

"Very well. Please, proceed to the room number two," the psychiatrist nodded with a smile, "I wish you luck."

With a nod of his own, Sirius got up from the chair and proceeded into the medical examination. He passed certain doctors rather quickly: his vision, sense of smell, hearing, were as sharp as ever; his body was no longer thin and gaunt, packing some muscle; his nerves worked as they should. Tests of his bodily liquids found nothing wrong with him. Despite his many scars, he was as healthy as one could be... except for one thing.

"I can do everything just fine even with my problem," Sirius assured the doctor as his hind leg was being examined, "I train, I exercise, I run... I do it just as well as others do."

"I believe your leg will cause you problems during service," the doctor said in a calm tone, "I'm not sure I should allow it, but... I have heard plenty of things about you, Sirius," he looked at the stallion, "You have definitely proved to be a capable warrior and protector. As I said, your leg will cause you problems, but... I see how you stand, how you walk. You have adapted to this unfortunate change. So, I believe it's best to allow you to proceed. The trials ahead will show if your claim of skill still holds true. But tell me, have you kept to doing the exercises to strengthen your leg and train its mobility and flexibility?"

"I have," Sirius said, demonstrating a perfect split. He got up just as effortlessly.

"Very well, then you may go on," the doctor nodded, placing a signature underneath the text he had just written. The paper immediately disappeared and moved on to the next doctor in line, "Good luck."

The medical examination ended soon enough and Sirius was told to wait outside the last numbered door. From behind it, the sounds of clashing steel could be heard, as well as yells. Too muffled to be clearly understood, but the stallion suspected it was the room – a hall, most likely – where combat trials were held. He had some time until his turn, and he spent it looking at all the medical papers that were written during his examination. His eyes went over everything briefly, and, although his injury was mentioned in the papers, the approval stamp was there, and he was ready to take on the trials.

Sirius had read about the tests before appearing at the Training Center. The first test was medical examination, and he passed it with relative ease. Psychological evaluation was also a part of the examination, but the short talk he had with the psychiatrist seemed way too short. However, all the time they were talking, the horn of the doctor was glowing – maybe it was magical evaluation. Next part would be the combat trials along with questions about the basics of Equestrian law. Sirius saw no issues with either and was ready for them.

Finally, it was his turn. He stepped into the hall and was greeted by none other but Shining Armor, the Captain of the Royal Guard.

"I expected to see you here someday, Sirius," he said, "And here you are, I'm glad to see you. Let's start with a couple of questions regarding the law."

Sirius nodded, mentally preparing to answer any question the captain could have.

"What is the basis of law in Equestria?"

"Everyone is entitled to happiness to the best of their ability and without interference from others as long as they respect the right to happiness of others," the stallion replied, somewhat paraphrasing the exact wording.

"And what does that exactly mean?" Shining Armor continued.

"Each of us can and, ideally, should strive for what we consider happiness," Sirius explained, "But we can't do that if it interferes with the happiness of other Equestrians. For example... we can't steal even if it makes us happy because those we steal things from will definitely be unhappy."

"What is the purpose of the Royal Guard?"

"To protect Equestrian values and ensure ponies and other beings follow them."

"Does the Royal Guard punish the lawbreakers?" the captain fired off the next question.

"No, that is the duty of the judicial system," Sirius shook his head, "The Royal Guards act on what they can observe. The whole picture requires investigation to be understood. Judgement can't be made without knowing as much as possible and, ideally, everything."

"Very good," Shining Armor nodded, "I see you have read the law and you understand it. I'd be cautious about you if you simply recited how it's written in the Constitution of Equestria. Now, are you ready for the combat trials?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then put on the padding and prepare for close combat, no weapons," the captain nodded and went to the stand with the armor. Soon, both he and Sirius put on the padded armor which protected most of their body, and the heaviest padding was on the chest area. Of course, a special cup was used to protect the very sensitive area in the crotch. Sirius felt somewhat restricted in the armor, but it still allowed good range of motion.

"I have trained many recruits for combat, and now you will fight against me," Shining Armor said, "Don't hold back, show the best you're capable of. Of course, one-on-one situation is an ideal scenario, but I believe this little sparring session will show how skillful you generally are."

Sirius nodded silently, and then he and the captain entered the training arena, a square of roughly ten by ten meters. Enough to maneuver around, at least for him. He didn't expect to defeat the muscular stallion that Shining Armor was; after all, Sirius had barely a few months of training behind his back, but he intended to show more during sword combat.

The two opponents stood in front of each other and, after a third pony announced, the fight began. Shining Armor was cautious, not rushing but not standing still either. Sirius was doing the same, although he was moving differently due to his injured leg. Something animalistic awoke inside him, and although controlled, it made his motions become fluid and yet tense, allowing him to spring into action at any moment.

Shining Armor twitched in Sirius' direction, but the second stallion didn't budge to the provocation. Swordsmanship training prepared him for such things, thankfully. However, he decided to start his assault right away, diving low in hopes of tackling the captain. He missed, to no surprise, but quickly turned and bucked, stricking the opponent straight in the chest. Shining Armor recoiled and stumbled, air knocked out of his lungs. Not wasting a moment, Sirius spun on his hind legs while also squatting, preparing for a lunge. He jumped at the captain, but he simply rolled onto his back and kicked with the hind legs, stopping the lunge and sending Sirius flying backwards. He landed on his back and swiftly rolled to get up on his hooves; Shining Armor did the same but quicker, and then used his front legs to spin and deliver a powerful kick. It hit Sirius in the side, making him lose balance and fall, and the captain was immediately on top of him, restraining him. Sirius tried to get up but the hold on him was firm, and he soon surrendered.

"Not bad," Shining Armor said, getting up from his opponent, "Reaction is good, speed is good, but... technique needs some work. You've not done much combat without weapons, have you?"

"Just... a few months," Sirius replied, breathing more heavily than the captain.

"Definitely not bad," he concluded with a nod, "Alright, you have passed this test. Rest for ten minutes and then we'll proceed to weapon combat."

Sirius nodded, taking off the head protection to wipe the sweat off his forehead. The padded armor, as he expected, made him sweat quite a bit even in the relatively cool environment of the training hall. As useful as armor was, he relied on his mobility and sword to protect himself. However, he understood that everything had its limits, and he wouldn't be able to stop an arrow or a bolt from hitting him if he swung a sword at it.

The rest passed like a second, and now it was time for him to fight with the weapon of his choice – the longsword. Royal Guard longswords were, for the most part, more thrust-oriented – their tips were more tapered and, as a whole, the blades were thinner. While they would be slightly worse at cutting, with enough training and sharpness of the blade itself, it could be overcome. However, no amount of sharpening aside from perhaps using magic could make a sword useful against metal armor, especially plate. Not that it mattered at the moment – the duel wasn't supposed to end in serious injuries or death.

"A spear is the most common weapon in the world aside from clubs," Shining Armor said when the two faced against each other again, "Let's see how you fare against it."

And the duel began. Sirius knew his opponent had an advantage when it came to reach, but he could circumvent that if he were fast enough. However, as simple as a spear was, it wasn't a weapon to disregard when fighting someone wielding it. Powerful thrusts could be devastating, and not much training was required to wield this polearm effectively. A sword even of exceptional sharpness couldn't cut through the wooden shaft either. Perhaps, it would bite into the wood, but cutting straight through was nearly impossible and could only happen under ideal conditions. The sword must be sharp and on the heavier side, and the angle of the cut must be precise, which is virtually impossible to achieve during combat situation.

Shining Armor advanced, threatening Sirius with the tip of the spear, making swift thrusts. The technique resembled what the stallion knew about human ones, but magic allowed more freedom, for it was less limiting in reach than arms. Sirius deflected one of the thrusts and retaliated by lunging forward, almost reaching the captain. He jumped back and swung the spear, but Sirius blocked with the flat side of the blade. Pushing against the spear, Sirius continued to advance on the captain, and then slid the sword against the shaft and made a thrust, which now reached Shining Armor and went straight in the gap of the Royal Guard armor he put on before the fight. The duel was now over.

"You move quickly and precisely," Shining Armor complimented his opponent, "A spear has its own limitations, and the closer you were to me, the harder it was for me to use it. Very good. You have passed this test. Now on to the ranged weapon test, bow and crossbow."

Sirius nodded, and the two exited the training arena. After taking off the armor, the two went to the shooting range. Targets were placed at five, ten, twenty, and thirty meters; perfect for the urban situation. A stack of bows and crossbows was placed nearby, and Shining Armor picked one of each for the stallion.

"I don't expect you to wield them well, but you should at least try to hit each target once even if it's not in the center," he said, "We usually use battle magic to catch suspects, and you will be trained in that... that is, if you're accepted."

Sirius nodded and grabbed a bow first. As a kid, he handled a bow once or twice, and it was rather difficult to pull the string correctly, much less aim the thing. There were no sights on regular bows, so one had to have experience to shoot it well.

He hit the first target pretty close to the center, however. The next arrow hit the second target in roughly the same area, the third hit on the rim, and the fourth almost missed.

"As expected, but not too bad," Shining Armor nodded, "Let's see how you handle a crossbow."

Unlike bows, crossbows offered more precision; the mechanics of one held the string, not the fingers or magic of the shooter. As different as firearms were compared to the crossbow, Sirius knew how to shoot them, and the crossbow gave off a more familiar feel than a bow. The crossbow in his magical grasp could be loaded by pulling the string with a loading lever one had to carry separately with them, but heavier crossbows would require a crank to pull the string. Sirius made his first shot and hit the first target square in the center. The recoil was minimal, and the familiar feel of the trigger and the shape of crossbow's stock. It was quite different from modern human guns, but the resemblance was enough to be comfortable with. Sirius made a second shot, once again hitting the center. The third and the fourth were absolutely the same.

"Great results, Sirius!" Shining Armor congratulated him, and then leaned forward, "I remember that... small cannon you had during the invasion. Is this where you got your skills?"

Sirius simply nodded.

"Very well," the captain nodded, "Alright, your tests are concluded. I will have to consult with the princesses, but I'm fairly certain you will be accepted shortly. When... ahem, if you are, a letter will be sent to you with instructions on how to proceed. Is everything clear?"

"Yes, sir," the stallion replied and nodded once again.

"Alright, then you may go," Shining Armor smiled, "And... I do hope to see you in our ranks, Sirius. We need ponies like you."

Sirius nodded and left the training hall, a smile playing its way onto his face, and a bounce was in his step. He wasn't jumping around and grinning, but for all he cared, it felt exactly like it. He knew the final word wasn't yet said, but now he was certain he would be accepted, and he will make sure he will uphold the values of the Royal Guard and Equestria as a whole.

This new part of his second life had just begun, and he intended to live it to the full.